Nothing incites the general public more than someone trying to charge for something that was once free. Yet that's exactly what entrepreneur Oscar F. Spate tried to do in the New York City parks in the blistering summer of 1901.

Suddenly, two broad-shouldered men approached the rocking-chair sitters. They wore identical gray suits and they carried black satchels with straps over their shoulders. The men in gray told the sitters that these were private chairs for rent, and that if they wanted to continue sitting they had to fork over five cents a day for the better seats, and three cents a day for seats that were not in as preferential a position in the park. Some people vacated their seats, but others paid. People who did neither were physically ejected from the seats. When they asked why, the men in gray said, "Them's Mr. Spate's chairs

This new phenomenon was covered extensively and very contentiously, in the following day's daily New York City newspapers. And the man on the hot seat was the president of the Park Commission - one George C. Clausen.